AIC defeats Air Force and advances to AHA semifinals

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Nico Somerville scored at 12:18 of overtime to lift AIC to a 3-2 win over Air Force in the second game of the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinal series, Saturday, March 9, at the Cadet Ice Arena. AIC swept the series and advances to the AHA semifinals next weekend at Holy Cross. Air Force's season comes to an end with an 18-19-1 record.

Air Force took the early lead as Austin Schwartz scored his 10^th of the season at 5:20 of the first period. Freshman defenseman Will Staring took a shot from the point and Andrew DeCarlo tipped it in front. Schwartz put back the rebound for a 1-0 lead. Late in the period, Sam Brennan drew a penalty and the Falcons scored on the power play. Freshman defenseman Nolan Cunningham moved the puck to the left side to Clayton Cosentino. Cosentino set up Chris Hedden in the slot for his eighth goal of the season and sixth on the power play.

In a scoreless second period, AIC outshot Air Force, 20-7, but Guy Blessing stopped all 20 he faced.

AIC (18-14-4) got on the board just 33 seconds into the third period on the rush as Brett Callhan tapped in a pass from Jordan Biro. Air Force challenged offsides, but the challenge was denied and the goal stood. A little over a minute later, the Falcons had a flurry in front of AIC goalie Nils Wallstrom. Air Force challenged that an AIC player covered the puck in the crease and the challenge was successful, giving the Falcons a penalty shot. Mitchell Digby took the shot, but it was high and the Yellow Jackets held on to the 2-1 lead. AIC pulled the goalie with 2:45 remaining and tied the game with the extra attacker on the ice. Brian Kramer's shot from the right point was wide, but John Lundy redirected it in the goal with 1:31 remaining.

In overtime, the Falcons had a power play early and had five shots on goal, but Wallstrom kept the net clean. Midway through the overtime period, Manz carried the puck down the right side and made a rink-wide pass to Somerville. Someville's rocket from the left circle went bar down for the game-winner at 12:18.

Air Force outshot AIC, 40-38, in the game. The Falcons were 1-for-3 on the power play while the Yellow Jackets were 0-for-4. Wallstrom made 38 saves for AIC while Blessing made 35 for the Falcons.

"We were playing our best hockey at the right time of year," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We played winning hockey all weekend. The difference in the series was their goalie (Nils Wallstrom). He was the player of the series. We had some terrific looks tonight. For whatever reason, it wasn't meant to be. Give AIC credit, they came back tonight and found a way to win two games. We didn't beat ourselves, we forced them to beat us. This group deserved a better fate. What a great passionate group of young men we have. They wanted it so bad. My heart aches for them."

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